Committee members, in spite of the daunting complexity of the
power conversion standard IPC-9592, are charging full speed ahead.
Despite tackling a complex, highly technical topic, and bringing together both suppliers and OEMs, committee members working on the IPC Performance Parameters for Power Conversion Devices (IPC-9592) standard say they should have a completed draft by the second quarter of 2008, just one year after the initial draft was released for public comment.
“We want to keep people excited and the industry informed [about the document],” says Tom Newton, director of PCB programs, standards and technology for IPC. The document standardizes the performance parameters for power conversion devices, including AC to DC and DC to DC modules, converters and printed circuit board assemblies for consumer devices like cell phones all the way up to high-reliability central office systems. Newton says to be essentially finished with such a wide-ranging document within one year is remarkable. “For an industry consensus document, that’s saying a lot.”
IPC members worked with a select group of OEMs to develop its first draft, then met with suppliers in Chicago in June 2007 to discuss comments. Many suppliers were concerned they had been left out of the original draft process, but Newton says committee members were able to diffuse what could have been a contentious situation by then involving them in the process. “Now it’s been moving at a reasonably rapid pace,” he says.
One such supplier, Paul Parker of Lineage Power, formerly Tyco Electronics, credits IPC for bringing the company on board. Parker hopes the original enthusiasm for the standard can continue through the final approval process. “There have been significant improvements made since the original draft due to efforts of the IPC-9592 committee,” he says. “These changes will need to be reviewed by industry representatives before final approval by the committee.”
Even if the standard isn’t perfect, Parker says, he’s anxious to see it in place. “I wish we could get this thing locked down, even if it is a compromised state, get it locked down, get it out there and start the engine, see how it runs,” Parker says. “Then let’s come along next year and tweak it.”
Tony Hilvers, IPC vice president of industry programs, says the new standard is important because it will cut down confusion and miscommunication between OEMs and suppliers, making everybody more efficient and reducing time to market. “I’m excited about it,” he said, “because I think ultimately it’s going to help users and customers.”
For more information, contact Tom Newton at 847-597-2849 or email TomNewton@ipc.org
